What is a Boxer's Fracture? | Budo Fight Search by keywords Categories - [ All items ](https://www.budo-fight.com/en/news "All items") - [ News & New Arrivals ](https://www.budo-fight.com/en/news/news-new-arrivals "News & New Arrivals") Subscribe! News & New Arrivals ![What is a Boxer's Fracture?](https://www.budo-fight.com/storage/media/14092/conversions/qu-est-ce-que-la-fracture-du-boxeur-lV56X-card_article.webp) Published on **July 2, 2024** # What is a Boxer's Fracture? A common fracture among boxers, the metacarpal fracture is one of the most frequent injuries in the world of pugilistic disciplines. What exactly is a boxer’s fracture? What are its symptoms? How is it treated? Can it be prevented? Which famous boxers have suffered from this injury? ## What is a boxer’s fracture or 5th metacarpal fracture? To better understand what a boxer’s fracture is, let’s start with a brief anatomy recap. The hand is made up of three main parts: - the phalanges, which are the bones of the fingers, - the carpals, located at the base of the palm, near the wrists, - and the metacarpals, which connect the phalanges to the carpals, and are found in the palm of the hand. The boxer’s fracture refers to a fracture of the 5th metacarpal, which is the bone under the pinky finger, commonly known as the “little finger.” This fracture results from an impact to the neck of the metacarpal beneath the pinky. ## Why is this injury called the “boxer’s fracture”? This 5th metacarpal injury is often the result of an impact with a closed fist, which is why it’s associated with punches in boxing. Not everyone who suffers this injury does so in a boxing match, but it is a common injury in the sport. There are, however, similar injuries, such as fractures of the metacarpal shaft or the base of the pinky, which should not be confused with the boxer’s fracture. ## What are the symptoms of a boxer’s fracture? The boxer’s fracture, in addition to being painful, can: deviate the finger phalanges, cause swelling of the fingers and hand and create lasting edema, prevent the pinky (little finger) from moving normally. ## How is a boxer’s fracture diagnosed? The diagnosis of a boxer’s fracture is based on a clinical examination in the doctor’s office and an X-ray of the hand. During the clinical exam, the doctor assesses the patient’s pain and checks the ability to rotate the hand and fingers. Then, the patient undergoes an X-ray, which confirms or clarifies the initial hypothesis. Sometimes, the doctor may order an additional CT scan to optimize the assessment. ## How is a boxer’s fracture treated? It all depends on the severity of the fracture. Treatment can take different forms depending on how serious the fracture is: wearing a splint, rehabilitation, surgery (with or without subsequent rehabilitation). ## Can a boxer’s fracture heal on its own? No, a boxer’s fracture cannot heal spontaneously. Whether severe or minor, a fracture must be properly treated to avoid any worsening. An untreated fracture, whether it’s a boxer’s fracture or another type, can develop into a nonunion (the bone does not heal and movement becomes impossible, potentially weakening adjacent joints) or may heal incorrectly, in which case the bone will need to be re-broken and properly set to fuse with the corresponding bone. ## How long does it take to heal a boxer’s fracture? The time needed for the bone to heal and consolidate **depends on the severity of the fracture**. Generally, the healing period ranges from 4 to 8 weeks, with an **average of 6 weeks**. Healthcare professionals assess bone healing with X-rays and determine when the patient can resume various activities based on imaging results. Here are the average recovery times observed before resuming the most common activities after a boxer’s fracture: Type of activity Average recovery time before resuming Sedentary work a few days (provided the hand is kept in a sling) Heavy manual labor 8 weeks Driving a vehicle 2 weeks Full contact punching 5 months However, be aware that certain factors can extend the bone healing period, such as: - diabetes, - use of corticosteroids, - advanced age, - smoking, - bone diseases (osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, etc.), - occurrence of infection (for example, if the injury was caused by striking an opponent’s teeth). ## How can you prevent a boxer’s fracture? While it’s impossible to completely eliminate the risk of injury, there are some precautions and best practices to follow: - **warm up thoroughly**, whether before training or competition, to prepare and loosen the joints, - fight against boxers in the **same weight class**, - wear gloves of the **appropriate size**, - **wrap your hands** under the gloves, - refine your defensive techniques to **protect yourself from blows**, - train sufficiently and properly, and learn **proper punching techniques** (that do not involve the 4th and 5th metacarpals). ## Which famous boxers have suffered from a boxer’s fracture? Many **famous boxers** have experienced a metacarpal fracture: - **Floyd Mayweather Jr.**: in 2015, during his fight against Manny Pacquiao. - **Sugar Ray Leonard**: on several occasions during his career. - **Joe Frazier**: in 1974, during his fight against Muhammad Ali. - **Mike Tyson**: in 1997, during his fight against Evander Holyfield. - **Oscar De La Hoya**: in 1999, during his fight against Felix Trinidad. - **Juan Manuel Marquez**: in 2008, during his fight against Manny Pacquiao. - **Sergio Martinez**: in 2012, during his fight against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. - **Amir Khan**: in 2012, during his fight against Danny Garcia. - **Gennady Golovkin**: in 2016, during his fight against Kell Brook. 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